Being back in the “trenches” of health
Wrapping up a 3 day State of Michigan HIV and STD conference in Traverse City on a high note but tired. I was asked to present on integrating technology into public health and comprehensive HIV/STD prevention and linkage to care.
I had forgotten how real ground level statewide conferences can out shine some of the national level ones; presenters actually get time to present versus cramming five distinct themes at 12 minutes each on a panel going against five other panels.
Or seeing diversity in the experiences of the voices; including academic and clinician based content balanced against local level and health communicators content that includes front line worker presentations which has huge contextual value often lost to “hard science” biased national conference content.
Well worth the trip to share some of what I spend so much time on but with an audience that was so eager to hear and implement and question.
Like other national trends at conferences, PrEP played a big role at this one although because of the rural nature there was a lot of smaller communities here in Michigan that are just beginning to figure out PrEP and how to add it to their discussions. Another big observation was a solid integration that “STD prevention is HIV prevention” and that HIV prevention/treatment as prevention can’t outshine the need for solid STD efforts. An unfortunate byproduct of reduced spending in some programs which had STD efforts playing “second fiddle” to the more popular (and better funded) push towards “getting to zero” local and nationsl HIV strategies. 
About Frank Strona
As a nationally known writer, educator, advisor, technology, coach, strategic engagement and content specialist, I have been active in the pursuit to improve, educate and promote opportunities that support the engaged learner and business while also preparing the workforce with the tools and skills necessary to stay competitive in a rapidly expanding technology-based world.